"Wala naman akong sinasabi." I said innocently. Napangiwi na lang siya sa inis pero humarap uli sa puntod ng Mom niya at pinagpatuloy ang mga kinekwento niya.
"So months passed, mas nagmukhang balyena si Mommy. Medyo natakot ako noon dahil para siyang napakalaking furball but Mom is still beautiful anyway. Madami nga ang nagsasabi na kamukha ko siya." She smiled but this time, sadly.
"Then dumating na yung due niya. We were at the hospital because Mom's water broke. Sobrang medyo kinabahan ako nun."
Tiningnan niya ako bago ngumisi, "Don't worry, this story is not as tragic as yours."
"So dinala na siya sa Delivery Room. Nakaupo lang ako non. I was nineteen but I don't have any idea what's really happening. Ang alam ko lang ay magkakaroon na ako ng kapatid na babae at magiging Ate na ako. Then the Doctor came out of the Delivery Room and talked to my Dad. Hindi ko narinig yung pinag-usapan nila. Nakita ko lang na hinilamos ni Dad yung kamay niya sa mukha niya. Bigla akong binalingan ng Doctor.
"Nginitian niya ako at sinabing, kakausapin daw ako ni Mom bago siya manganak. Tumango lang ako at pumasok sa loob ng Delivery room. Nakita ko si Mom na nakahiga at nakatingin sakin habang nakangiti. Napansin kong medyo namumutla siya na parang nanghihina.
"I hugged her and kissed her cheek. Naiyak naman si Mama sa ginawa ko then she held my hand. Magiging Ate na daw ako, she told me. Maging mabait daw ako sa kapatid ko. Ang dami niyang binilin sakin, yung tipong namamaalam. Hindi ko naman alam na gagawan lang ng Doctor ng paraan na maipanganak yung kapatid ko pero wala pa sa 10% chance ang survival ng Mama ko.
"Noon lang yun naikwento sakin ni Dad. Sinabi na sa kanya ng Doctor na okay lang ang lahat kay Mom basta mabuhay yung kapatid ko. Dad had no choice but to let it happen. Not that I am mad or anything. They had to make sacrifices. Isa lang kasi ang pwedeng mabuhay―Mom or Lana. Mom sacrificed herself and I am proud of her for that. She's a strong woman, something I wanted to become kaya mas lalo kong pinursue ang pagiging Lawyer.
"Madami pa ang binilin ni Mom sa akin bago ako mapalabas ng Delivery room so they could already perform the operation. Mom told me to enjoy my life." She grinned.
"Kaya nga tinodo ko ang pag-eenjoy sa buhay ko." She laughed.
"Like going to parties? That's not actually how you enjoy life." I said smugly. Tinawanan niya lang ako.
"Nakalimutan ko na halos lahat pero may pinakabinilin si Mom sakin. She told me to always smile no matter what. Kahit daw mahirap na yung pinagdadaanan ko, she told me not to frown but to smile and be happy. Ayaw niya kasi na iiyak lang ako at magmumukmok instead of enjoying things in life. She told me she loves me so much so she doesn't want me to be miserable." Natahimik naman ako. Kaya ba siya ganito?
"Mom kissed me before letting go of my hand. I told her I love her then pinalabas na muna ulit ako ng Doctor. Nakita kong si Dad naman yung kinausap niya. Lumabas din si Dad and he's crying so hard. Ginawa yung operation and my sister survived. Mom didn't. Gusto kong umiyak nung mga panahong yun but I saw my sister, Lana crying too as if she actually knows what happened. Dad was crying too because he knows what really happened. Ako, gusto kong umiyak kahit hindi ko alam ang lahat. Ang alam ko lang ay yung mga binilin sakin ni Mom. I forced myself not to cry. I have to be strong for them, you know. Umiyak na lang ako nung nilibing si Mommy. Umiiyak naman ako, sumisimangot at naiinis but I don't let those things get the best of me. I have to smile for my Mom because that is how she wanted me to live my life." Napabuntong hininga si Eleanor. Nobody spoke. Hindi ko alam kung may sasabihin pa ba siya or hindi pero walang umimik sa aming dalawa.
YOU ARE READING
No Strings Attached
General Fiction[For my beloved Chance Lucas Sandoval] Chance Lucas Sandoval meets Eleanor Kai Gonzales in the most unlikely place, and you can guess that the most unlikely thing happens. He agrees to date other women, as Eleanor has stated, to help him move on wit...
